YOu ſhall obſerve and execute the Ordinance of both Houſes of Parliament the eighth of this month, for the ſuppreſſion of the Rebellion and Commotion, raiſed by the Marqueſſe of Hartford in the County of Somerſet, and other Weſtern Counties; and by the Earle of Northampton and others in the County of Leiceſter Northampton, Warwick, and other adjoyning parts.

You ſhall conduct and leade all ſuch Forces of Horſe and Foot as ſhall be appointed by the Lord Generall (the Earle of Eſſex) for this ſervice, and ſhall fight with, kill, and ſlay all ſuch as ſhall by force oppoſe you in the execution of that Ordinance, and all their Aſsiſtants, Ayders, and Abettors, and you ſhall levie ſuch other Forces of horſe and foot, as his Excellence ſhall by his Commiſſion give you power to leavie, under ſuch Colonels, Commanders, and other Officers, as ſhall bee by him appointed or directed? And you ſhall purſue the ſaid Rebels and Traytors, in the ſaid Counties, or in any other Counties, or parts of the Kingdome into which they ſhall retyre themſelves.

All which Forces ſo to be raiſed ſhall have the ſame pay as the reſt of the Army is to have. And you ſhall defend and protect his Majeſties Subjects from violence and oppreſſion by the illegall Commiſſion of Array, or otherwiſe; And you ſhall hinder and forbid the execution of that illegall Commiſſion, and in all places to the uttermoſt of your power, indeavour to preſerve and reſtore the peace of the Kingdome.

You are hereby authorized and required to diſarme all popiſh Recuſants, and all ſuch other dangerous and ill-affected perſons, as well Clergy men as others, as have teſtified or ſhall teſtifie their ill-diſpoſition to the peace of the Kingdom.

You ſhall indeavour to cleere the proceedings of Parliament from all imputations and Aſperſions, and ſhall from time to time certifie us of all things neceſſary for the publique ſervice, and that wee may have a ſpeedy account of it, and directions to you, aſwell as your advertiſements to us may have a cleer and ready paſſage, you ſhall lay a ſtrict charg upon all poſt-maſters, that they doe not ſuffer any Letters, or other Diſpatches, to or from the Parliament, to be intercepted or ſtayed: or if any ſhall preſume to make ſuch ſtay of thoſe Diſpatches, you ſhall direct the Poſtmaſters to repaire to the Juſtices of the Peace, Conſtables, and all other Officers, for their Aid and Aſſiſtance, who are hereby required to take ſpeciall care that there may not be no ſuch interruption.

If you ſhall find any diſaffected perſons, raiſing any parties againſt the Parliament, ſpreading ſcandals or aſperſions on their proceedings, like to diſturbe the peace of the Kingdom; you ſhall cauſe all ſuch perſons (upon good proofes of their Miſdemeanours) to be Arreſted and ſent up to anſwer ſuch their Offences, as to Law and Juſtice ſhall appertain.

You ſhall take from the ſaid Rebels and Traytors all ſuch Arms, Ordinance, and Ammunition, as they have taken from his Majeſties Subjects, and reſtore the ſame to the Owner.

Whereas his Majeſty ſeduced by wicked Councels hath raiſed Warre againſt his Parliament, and other his good ſubjects, and hath drawn together great troops of Papiſts and ill affected perſons, and ſent out Commiſſion for the levying of others, to the great hazzard of Religion, and the publique peace of the Kingdome.

You are therfore required to ſuppreſſe all perſons whatſoever, who ſhall leavie any Souldiers, or draw together any of the Trayned Bands, by colour or pretence of any Commiſſion from his Majeſty, under the great Seal or otherwiſe; And you ſhall ceize upon all Horſes, Arms, Ammunition, money, Plate, or other Proviſion whatſoever, raiſed or provided under pretence of his Majeſties ſervice, for the fomenting or maintaining any ſuch unnaturall and unlawfull warre againſt his people.

You ſhall obſerve and execute all ſuch further Directions and Inſtructions as you ſhall from time to time receive from both Houſes of Parliament; As likewiſe, ſuch Inſtructions and Directions as you ſhal from time to time receive from the Committees of the Lords and Commons appointed to take Care of the ſafety of the Kingdom, and whatſoever you ſhall do therein, or any other perſon in Aid or Aſſiſtance of you, it ſhall be accepted as a good and neceſſary ſervice to the Kingdom, and for their and your ſo doing, they and you ſhall bee defended and protected by the Authority of Parliament. And this Reſolution of the Lords and Commons, to protect thoſe that ſhall obey and further their Commands, you ſhal publiſh and declare upon all occaſions, for the better encouragement of the Subjects of this Kingdom in that behalfe.